Recording/reproduction device, recording management method, recording medium, and program

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a recording/reproducing apparatus capable of realizing proper recorded-content management on a large-capacity storage device. The content data recorded on the recording medium is managed with the content age computed by a lapse time from its recording date-and-time and a genre, and automatically deleted with priority of higher content age. Meanwhile, the user is allowed to instruct delete-prohibition management on a content not desired for automatic deletion. The content data placed under delete-prohibition management is excluded from a subject of automatic deletion. Meanwhile, concerning the delete-prohibition management, an upper limit value is provided. By disabling to unnecessarily placing a great deal of content data under delete-prohibition management, secured is a recording domain during automatic picture-recording or so.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a recording/reproducing apparatus forrecording/reproducing a multimedia content of data in various kinds,such as video, audio and texts, and a recording/managing method,recording medium and program for a recorded multimedia content.

BACKGROUND ART

There is a spread of AV appliances in various kinds forrecording/reproducing video data, audio data, etc., e.g. as video taperecorders and disk recorders/players having, as recording mediums,magnetic tapes and optical disks, magnetooptical disks, memory cards andthe like. Recently, there have been developed appliances forrecording/reproducing a diversity of contents (multimedia contents) ofvideo, music, data files, etc. by using large-capacity recordingmediums, e.g. HDDs (hard disk drives).

For example, a recording/reproducing section having an HDD as arecording medium is provided on a digital broadcast tuner, beingrealized as a recording/reproducing apparatus capable of recordingbroadcast programs.

In the meanwhile, because the conventional video tape recorder or thelike is small in recordable capacity, the user is allowed to grasp avideo content, etc. recorded on the video tape or the like. Ifunnecessary, it is used by overwrite-recording. Thus, there is no needto automatically manage the recorded contents, e.g. automatically eraseunwanted contents.

Meanwhile, because there is no electronic additional information for theapparatus to grasp a content, automatic management of contents isimpossible to implement.

However, in the digital audio/video recorder using a recentlarge-capacity random-accessible hard disk, storage capacity is great.This makes difficult for the user to grasp all the recorded contents.Meanwhile, there becomes troublesome in such management that the userdeletes unnecessary contents by himself/herself. Also, on even alarge-capacity recording medium, if unnecessary contents are left over along time, it some time becomes full in capacity, resulting in asituation not for recording furthermore.

For this reason, it is desired to automatically implement contentmanagement on the apparatus side in order to improve the user'soperationality.

Meanwhile, in the usual scheduling for picture-recording, when the useris making a scheduling operation, in the case it is determined that thestorage device capacity required for picture-recording cannot besecured, the contents can be erased in an interactive form with theuser.

However, the recording/reproducing apparatus using an HDD has a functionto automatically picture-record a broadcast program on the basis ofuser's taste or viewing history, or a program recommended from abroadcast station or service site. The user does not carry outoperations in executing such automatic picture-recording. Namely,recording proceeds regardless of user's intention. In this case, even incase capacity is insufficient, it is impossible to delete unwantedcontents by an interactive form with the user.

From this fact, content management with automatic erasure is desired inorder to secure a recording domain of storage device at all times.

Herein, as a technique for automatically managing the contents recordedon the HDD for example, there is known for example an automatic deletingfunction of automatically deletion from old contents. Namely, contentrecording date-and-time is placed under management, to delete those asrequired in the order of older recording date-and-time.

In this case, however, because deletion is by reason that a certaincontent is old, there is a case improper for the user. For example, itis improper to delete, because of the reason of old, a content the userlikes and enjoys reproduction repeatedly.

Meanwhile, as disclosed in JP-A-11-18039, there are those forautomatically erasing a content by utilization of whether a content hasbeen reproduced or not or of the information about the number of timesof reproductions. However, there are cases considered not proper in thescheme of determining a subject of automatic deletion on the basis of apresence or absence of reproduction or the number of times thereof.

For example, news program, once viewed, can be deleted usually. However,in the case of music video, the more the number of times ofreproductions are, the higher the user possibly views it again. Hence,it should not be a subject of deletion.

Meanwhile, as disclosed in JP-A-2000-21136, there is also a scheme thatthe user selects four levels of “Save Unconditional”, “Auto Delete AfterViewing”, “Auto Delete Upon Passing Save Period” and “Auto DeleteUnconditional” on each recorded content so that the system can managecontents as per user's designation. This reflects user's intention,preventing against improper deletion. However, the user is required todesignate multi-stage management levels on each content, hencetroublesome for the user. For example, the user is uncertain of inhis/her decision as to which management level is to be taken for thecontent, and feels troublesomeness in designating the management levelsin plural stages.

Meanwhile, if the user should designate “Save Unconditional” or “AutoDelete After Viewing” for the most of contents, there is a possibilityto cause a situation that, when delete execution is needed, there is nocontents for deletion.

Considering the current situation that storage capacity increase is inrapid advancement for the multimedia content recording/reproducingapparatus using an HDD or the like, it can be expected for the user tomanage recorded contents. Importance is placed on content management ofautomatically deleting unnecessary contents. The above schemes have apossibility to delete not along with user's intention, or encounter acase a comparatively heavy operation burden is imposed on the user ornecessary deletion is not to be executed. This is not necessarilyconsidered as proper control of automatic deletion.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to prevent greatoperation burden on the user and further enable proper automaticdeletion, as a multimedia content recording/reproducing apparatus or arecord managing method therefor.

Accordingly, a recording/reproducing apparatus of the present inventioncomprises: recording/reproducing means capable of recording inputtedcontent data to a recording medium and reproducing content data from therecording medium; content-status managing means for managing a contentage as a value age-addition-processed on the content data recorded onthe recording medium, depending upon a lapse time from a recordingexecution data-and-time and a genre of the content data; andautomatic-deletion control means for making reference to the content ageunder management of the content-status managing means as to the contentdata recorded on the recording medium, and automatically deleting thecontent data with priority of higher content age from the recordingmedium.

Meanwhile, the automatic-deletion control means carries out deleting thecontent data with priority of higher content age, on the basis of aremaining recordable capacity of the recording medium and a capacityrequired for content data to be recorded to the recording medium.

Meanwhile, the content-status managing means is adapted to make adelete-prohibition management on the content data recorded on therecording medium, and the automatic-deletion control means carries outdeleting the content data with priority of higher content age, exceptingthe content data placed under delete-prohibition management in thecontent-status managing means.

Meanwhile, the content-status managing means places underdelete-prohibition management content data that an operation inputinstructing delete-prohibition has been done of among the content datarecorded on the recording medium.

Meanwhile, when carrying out delete-prohibition management on thecontent data, provided is an upper limit value of a total amount ofcontent data to be placed under delete-prohibition management.

Meanwhile, in a case determined that the total amount of content data tobe placed under delete-prohibition management exceeds the upper limitvalue, notification is made of a fact delete-prohibition management isimpossible.

Meanwhile, the upper limit value of a total amount of content data to beplaced under delete-prohibition management is to be previously set ordesirably set.

Meanwhile, further comprised of a display-data output means foroutputting display data including a matter informing that content datascheduled for automatic deletion is singled out of the content datarecorded on the recording medium on the basis of the content age undermanagement of the content-status managing means, and automatic deletionis scheduled on the singled-out content data.

Meanwhile, the recording/reproducing means automatically records contentdata in a genre a user likes to the recording medium.

Meanwhile, the recording/reproducing means records content data ofrecommendations provided by service to the recording medium.

Meanwhile, the recording/reproducing means records content data selectedfrom a list of information of the content data by a user's operationinput to the recording medium.

Meanwhile, the recording/reproducing means records the content data in acompression form to the recording medium.

Meanwhile, a genre-based coefficient value upon making an age-additionprocess on the content age is to be previously set or set/changed.

Meanwhile, a record managing method of the invention comprises: amanaging procedure of managing a content age as a valueage-addition-processed on content data recorded on the recording medium,depending upon a lapse time from a recording execution data-and-time anda genre of the content data; and an automatic deleting procedure ofmaking reference to the content age as to the content data recorded onthe recording medium, and automatically deleting the content data withpriority of higher in the content age from the recording medium.

Meanwhile, a recording medium of the invention recording acomputer-readable program, the program being for a recording/reproducingapparatus and including: a managing step of managing a content age as avalue age-addition-processed on content data recorded on the recordingmedium, depending upon a lapse time from a recording executiondata-and-time and a genre of the content data; and an automatic deletingstep of making reference to the content age as to the content datarecorded on the recording medium, and automatically deleting the contentdata with priority of higher in the content age from the recordingmedium.

Meanwhile, a program of the invention for a computer for controlling arecording/reproducing apparatus to execute: a managing step of managinga content age as a value age-addition-processed on content data recordedon the recording medium, depending upon a lapse time from a recordingexecution data-and-time and a genre of the content data; and anautomatic deleting step of making reference to the content age as to thecontent data recorded on the recording medium, and automaticallydeleting the content data with priority of higher content age from therecording medium.

Meanwhile, a recording/reproducing apparatus of the invention comprises:recording/reproducing means capable of recording inputted content datato a recording medium and reproducing content data from the recordingmedium; content-status managing means capable of placing underdelete-prohibition management one or a plurality of ones of content dataequal to or less than the upper limit value of among the content datarecorded on the recording medium; and automatic-deletion control meansfor automatically deleting, concerning the content data recorded on therecording medium, the content data from the recording medium, exceptingcontent data being placed under delete-prohibition management in thecontent-status managing means.

Meanwhile, the upper limit value is set as a capacity value in apredetermined percentage of a capacity of the recording medium, wherebya total capacity of one or a plurality of ones of content data to beplaced under delete-prohibition management is equal to or less than thepredetermined percentage of capacity value.

Meanwhile, the content-status managing means, in the case an operationinput instructing delete-prohibition is made for certain content data ofamong the content data recorded on the recording medium, prohibits therelevant content data from being deleted thereby determining whether toexceed the upper limit value wherein, in a case determined not to exceedthe upper limit value, the relevant content data is placed underdelete-prohibition management.

Meanwhile, a recording managing method of the invention comprises: amanaging procedure for placing under delete-prohibition management oneor a plurality of ones of content data equal to or less than the upperlimit valve of among the content data recorded on the recording medium;and automatic deleting procedure, concerning the content data recordedon the recording medium, for automatically deleting content data fromthe recording medium except for the content data being placed underdelete-prohibition management.

Meanwhile, a recording medium of the invention recording acomputer-readable program, the program being for a recording/reproducingapparatus and including: a managing step of placing one or a pluralityof ones of content data equal to or less than the upper limit value ofamong the content data recorded on the recording medium underdelete-prohibition management; and automatic deleting step, concerningthe content data recorded on the recording medium, for automaticallydeleting content data from the recording medium except for the contentdata being placed under delete-prohibition management.

Meanwhile, a program of the invention for a computer for controlling arecording/reproducing apparatus to execute: a managing step of placingone or a plurality of ones of content data equal to or less than theupper limit value of among the content data recorded on the recordingmedium under delete-prohibition management; and automatic deleting step,concerning the content data recorded on the recording medium, forautomatically deleting content data from the recording medium except forthe content data being placed under delete-prohibition management.

According to the present invention of the above, the content datarecorded on the recording medium is managed with the content agecomputed by a lapse time from its recording date-and-time and a genre,and automatically deleted with priority of higher content age. Becausethe content of a broadcast program or the like can be distinguished in acertain degree depending upon genre whether to preferably save or to beallowed for deletion, content age based on lapse time and genre can beproper index values for automatic deletion.

Meanwhile, the user is allowed to instruct delete-prohibition managementon a content not desired for automatic deletion. The content data placedunder delete-prohibition management is excluded from a subject ofautomatic deletion. Thus, automatic deletion the user does not desire isnot carried out.

At this time, concerning the delete-prohibition management, an upperlimit value is provided. By disabling to placing a great deal of contentdata under delete-prohibition management, secured is a recording domainduring automatic picture-recording or so.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a hardware configuration of arecording/reproducing apparatus in an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a functional configuration of therecording/reproducing apparatus in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory figure of an EPG database in the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory figure of a storage video database in theembodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory figure of a content-status database in theembodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a content-age-addition process in theembodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of an automatic deletion at a start ofpicture-recording in the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a delete-prohibition management in theembodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a picture-recorded content list preparingprocess in the embodiment.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereunder, explanation will be made on embodiments of the presentinvention. Incidentally, the recording/reproducing apparatus of thisembodiment is assumably configured by a digital satellite broadcastreceiver having a recording/reproducing function provided by an HDDdrive or the like. Naturally, the recording/reproducing apparatus of theinvention is not limited- to the configuration like this. Explanation isin the order as follows:

-   -   1. hardware configuration of recording/reproducing apparatus    -   2. functional block configuration of recording/reproducing        apparatus    -   3. content-age-addition process    -   4. automatic removal during picture-recording    -   5. delete-prohibit management    -   6. picture-recorded content list preparation process    -   7. other modifications.        1. Hardware Configuration of Recording/Reproducing Apparatus

FIG. 1 shows a hardware configuration of a recording/reproducingapparatus 1 as an embodiment of the present invention.

This recording/reproducing apparatus 11 is an apparatus that a videorecording/reproducing function is added to a digital satellite broadcastreceiver. A number of video pictures can be recorded to an HDD (harddisk drive) 85 having a huge capacity of storage. Furthermore, user'sintention can be correctly grasped and reflected in save management ofrecorded pictures.

Incidentally, the recording/reproducing apparatus 11 can be mounted asan AV appliance, e.g. can be configured integral with a televisionreceiver such as a set top box.

The broadcast wave, transmitted for example from a communication orbroadcast satellite not shown herein as a digital satellite broadcast,is received at a parabolic antenna 3 a and supplied to a tuner 71 of therecording/reproducing apparatus 11. This broadcast wave is superposedwith electronic program information data (hereinafter, referred to asEPG (Electronic Program Guide) data), according to a regular format.

In the digital satellite broadcast system that the television signal isdigitalized and transmitted by the broadcast satellite or thecommunication satellite so that the broadcast signal is to be receivedfor viewing for example at households, it is possible to secure channelsprovided nearly 150. Accordingly, a great number of programs are to beaired, as compared to the conventional broadcast for example overterrestrial wave.

For this reason, in the digital satellite broadcast system, electronicprogram guide (EPG) information being the information on a broadcastprogram is transmitted in order for positive selection of a desiredprogram from among a number of programs. The digital satellite broadcastreceiver end is configured to prepare and display/output a program guidetable, on the basis of the data of electronic program guide. The programguide table is configured as a GUI (Graphical User Interface). Forexample, the user, if making an operation to the program guide table, isallowed to select a desired program.

Also, the EPG contains program genre, e.g. categories such as news,sport and drama. By utilizing the EPG, the program being aired can bemanaged with grouping based on genre. Accordingly, it is possible tosearch for a program in a genre desired for viewing from many channelsor to automatically record a program in a genre the user likes.

Incidentally, the broadcast wave received may be any including those ofwired broadcast and terrestrial waves, besides the digital satellitebroadcast wave. Meanwhile, depending upon whether the received broadcastwave is an analog signal or a digital signal, proper modification isnecessarily made to the internal configuration of the tuner section aswell as the various functional circuit sections to be explainedsubsequently.

The tuner 71 makes a tuning, or channel selection, to a desired channelof broadcast wave, under control of a CPU 81, and outputs reception datato a demodulator 72.

The demodulator 72 demodulates the digital-modulated reception data andoutputs it to a decoder 73.

In the case of a digital satellite broadcast for example, the digitaldata received from a broadcast wave by the tuner 71 and demodulated bythe demodulator 72 is a transport stream multiplexed with the AV datacompressed under MPEG2 scheme and the data for data broadcast. AV datais video and audio information configuring a broadcast content main bodywhile data-broadcast data is data attended on a broadcast content mainbody, i.e. EPG data as noted above.

The decoder 73 separates the transport stream supplied from thedemodulator 72 into AV data compressed under MPEG2 scheme and data fordata broadcast. The decoder 73 also separates the real-time AV datacompressed under MPEG2 scheme into compressed video data and compressedaudio data.

The separated audio data is PCM (Pulse Code Modulation)-decoded andthereafter synthesized with additional sound, then being output onto aspeaker 93 through a mixer (MUX) 75.

Meanwhile, the separated video data is decompressed and thereafteroutputted onto a display 94 through a composer 77.

A RAM 74 can save those of operation data given by the decoder 73.

The speaker 93 outputs the audio signal supplied from the mixer 75.Meanwhile, the display 94 displays (reproduces) the video signalsupplied from the composer 77.

The decoder 73 also supplies the data-broadcast data (EPG data)separated from the transport stream, to the CPU81 through the bus 79.This allows the CPU 81 to execute a predetermined process according to apredetermined application, in order for utilization upon preparing anEPG list or reproducing schedule list.

A user-interface control section 76 is a module for processing the inputoperation of from a user. For example, by operating a remote commander91 structured by an operation button or switch by the user, theoperation signal (IR signal) emitted from an infrared-ray emitting part(not shown) is received at a light-receiving part 76 a where it isconverted into an input operation signal as an electric signal andoutputted to the CPU 81.

Incidentally, of course, an operation switch or the like may be formedon a apparatus housing panel so that the user can operate the operationswitch on the panel. In such a case, the operation with the operationswitch on the panel is detected by the user-interface control section 76and supplied as operation information to the CPU 81.

A graphic processing controller 78 is an exclusive controller forgenerating a screen under control of the CPU 81, which has ahigh-definition rendering function equivalent to SVGA (Super VideoGraphic Array) or XGA (extended Graphic Array), for example.

The graphic processing controller 78 is to render a GUI (Graphical UserInterface) operation screen, an EPG list screen, a schedule screen orthe like.

These of rendering screen data, in the composer 77, are synthesized witha broadcast video picture, etc. or switched and outputted to the display94, thereby being displayed to the user.

A communication control section 80 controls wired communications throughthe telephone line or cable. By communicating with an external serversystem through the communication control section 80, exchange is made ofa broadcast content, EPG data or recommended picture-recording programdata. Also, data exchange is carried out by communication with theexternal appliance through the communication control section 80.

The CPU 81 is a main controller for control over the entire operation ofthe recording/reproducing apparatus 11, which executes variousapplications on the platform provided by an operating system (OS).

This CPU 81 carries out a required control for broadcast reception andoutput, picture-recording/reproducing of contents, broadcast programmanagement using EPG data, management of the contents recorded on theHDD 85, screen-display data generation by the graphic processingcontroller 78 and soon, on the basis of an operation signal inputtedthrough the remote commander 91 or user-interface control section 76.

A RAM 82 is a writable volatile memory used to load an execution programfor the CPU 81 and to write the operation data for the executionprogram.

A ROM 83 is a read only memory storing a self-diagnosis/initializingprogram to be executed upon powering on the recording/reproducingapparatus 11, a control code for hardware operation and so on.

An IEEE (The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 1394interface 84 is a serial high-speed interface capable of communicatingdata at approximately several tens MBps. An IEEE 1394 port 84 a is to beconnected with an apparatus compatible with IEEE 1394, e.g. a videocamera 92, which can carry out data communication with these connectedappliances.

The hard disk drive (HDD) 85 is a random-accessible storage devicecapable of storing programs and data in a predetermined format of fileform, which has a large capacity of approximately several tens GB (or100 GB or greater), for example.

The HDD 85 also is connected to a bus 79 through a hard disk interface86. Under control of the CPU 81, recorded/reproduced is the data orcontrol information supplied from the decoder 73 or communicationcontrol section 80. For example, recorded/reproduced are EPG data,broadcast contents, content status, recommended picture-recordingprogram list, content age, erase prohibiting information and so on. Forexample, the storage video database 50, the EPG database 43, thecontent-status database 56 and the like, to be hereinafter referred inFIG. 2 are to be architected on the HDD 85.

The video data, such as of broadcast contents, reproduced from the HDD85 is supplied onto the display 94 through the composer 77, where it isvideo-outputted. Meanwhile, the audio data reproduced is supplied to thespeaker 93 through the mixer 75, and audio-outputted.

2. Functional Block Configuration of Recording/Reproducing Apparatus

FIG. 2 shows a functional block configured for realizing the operationsof this embodiment, i.e. mainly picture-recording broadcast programs(content data) and managing the picture-recorded content data, in therecording/reproducing apparatus 11 of the above hardware configuration.

A broadcast-wave receiving section 41 is inputted by a broadcast contentand EPG data received by the antenna 3 a, and carries out apredetermined process, such as demodulation process and error correctionprocess, on these of data. Namely, there is shown a function that thetuner 71, demodulator 72 or decoder 73 in FIG. 1 executes under controlof the CPU 81.

An EPG extracting section 42 extracts EPG data out of the data receivedby the broadcast-wave receiving section 41, and stores it to an EPGdatabase 43. Namely, it corresponds EPG data extraction by the decoder73 in FIG. 1, transfer to the CPU 81, and EPG data write operationfunction to the EPG database architected on the HDD 85 under control ofthe CPU 81.

Incidentally, in the case of acquiring EPG data from an external serverby Internet communication or the like, the EPG extracting section 42extracts EPG data as information obtained in a communicating section 58(communication control section 80 in FIG. 1).

As described above, the EPG data contains titles, genre, channels,airing date-and-time (start/end time and time length (data size) basedthereon), performers, commentary, and other various pieces ofinformation, on the broadcast-program (content) basis.

The EPG database 43 is to store EPG data of those of title, genre andthe like of each content, as shown in FIG. 3. Incidentally, in thisembodiment, the EPG data of the contents are under management withreference to content IDs (ID1, ID2, . . . ) given on the content-databasis. The content ID is to be used for association with ahereinafter-referred storage-video database 50 and content-statusdatabase 56, hereinafter referred.

A picture-recording scheduling section 44 registers (schedules), inadvance, a desired broadcast content so that the content to be aired inthe future can be picture-recorded in a picture-recording processingsection 45.

As registering for picture-recording, carried out is schedulingregistration to be executed depending upon the operation that an EPGlist is presented to the user so that the user selects a program desiredfor picture-recording from the EPG list by operating input (registrationof scheduled picture-recording based on user's intention), or schedulingregistration for automatically performing picture-recording dependingupon user's taste, habits and the like (registration for automaticpicture-recording not based upon user's operation). Meanwhile, there arecases to register the scheduling of a recommended program provided byservice, through the communicating section 58.

The function of the picture-recording scheduling section 44 is realizedby the process of the CPU 81. Meanwhile, the information of schedulingregistration is stored to the HDD 85. Otherwise, in case there isprovided a non-volatile memory such as flash memory the CPU 81 is toaccess, registration information may be stored to the flash memory orthe like.

The picture-recording processing section 45 is a function that, when abroadcast content scheduled for picture-recording by thepicture-recording scheduling section 44 is aired, the content ispicture-recoded to the HDD 85. The picture-recording processing section45 can manually or automatically picture-record the content currentlybeing aired. On this occasion, automatic content deletion is made inorder to secure a free capacity required in picture-recording.

The processing at a start of picture-recording, particularly automaticdeletion process for securing the capacity, is hereinafter describedwith reference to FIG. 7.

The function of the picture-recording processing section 45 is realizedby the operation of the CPU 81, HDD interface 86 and HDD 85.

The contents, to be picture-recorded onto the HDD 85 by the function ofthe picture-recording processing section 45, are recorded as data filesof the storage-video database 50 in the HDD 85.

Namely, the storage-video database 50 stores the contentspicture-recorded by the picture-recording processing section 45, asshown in FIG. 4. The video data to be stored to the storage-videodatabase 50 is recorded in an MPEG2 (Moving Picture Experts Group 2)compression form, associatively with broadcast channel, airingdate-and-time (picture-recording date-and-time) or the content IDacquired from the EPG data.

A content managing section 46 provides a correspondence between theindividual pieces of content information (EPG data content) stored inthe EPG database 43 and the individual ones of video data stored in thestorage video database 50.

This correspondence uses content IDs, for example. As shown in FIGS. 3and 4, the same content ID is previously recorded in both the EPGdatabase 43 and the storage video database 50.

In FIG. 4 for example, there is shown a state that the contents of ID1,ID3, ID4 are recorded as content IDs in the EPG database 43. However, inthe storage video database 50, by attaching the content IDs to thecompressed content files, the state is in association with the EPG datacontent corresponding to each of content data (compressed content file)actually picture-recorded.

Incidentally, within the compressed content file, the corresponding EPGdata content may be recorded.

Meanwhile, concerning the content data picture-recoded or scheduled forpicture-recording, the status data of that content is notified from thepicture-recording scheduling section 44 or picture-recording processingsection 45 to the content managing section 46.

The content information (EPG data) and the video data (compressedcontent files), placed in correspondence as in the above, arecollectively managed together with the content status data such as“scheduled for picture-recording”, “picture-recorded”, etc.

In the content status data, also stored are content “delete prohibition”information, “content age” information, content “storage capacity” and“recording date-and-time”.

Namely, by the content managing section 46, a content-status database 56as shown in FIG. 5 is architected for example in the HDD 85.

Each content is registered to the content-status database 56 by thecontent managing section 46.

For example, in the content-status database 56, the contents scheduledfor picture-recording and the contents picture-recorded are managed withreference to the content IDs. For each content, the information ofscheduled for picture-recording/picture-recorded is recorded as acontent status.

Meanwhile, although hereinafter referred, delete prohibition informationis recorded in accordance with user's designation on delete-prohibition.

Also, content age is held while being updated by the age managingsection 57.

Meanwhile, content capacity (data size and time length) is recorded.

Meanwhile, date-and-time information is recorded. As date-and-timeinformation, recorded are e.g. date-and-time of contentpicture-recording to the HDD 85 (schedule date-and-time ofpicture-recording), information update date-and-time in the relevantcontent-status database 56, e.g. content state, delete prohibitioninformation, and information update date-and-time of content age and thelike.

Meanwhile, the content managing section 46 provides content “storagecapacity” and “recording date-and-time”, and content“delete-prohibition” information and “age” information to thepicture-recording processing section 45 while managing thecontent-status database 56. The picture-recording processing section 45makes reference to these pieces of information during an automaticdeletion process, hereinafter referred.

The function as the content managing section 46 is realized by theprocessing of the CPU 81.

The age managing section 57 makes an age-adding process on the recordedcontent as hereinafter referred in FIG. 6, to add age to the content.Then, update is made to the content age information in thecontent-status database 56.

Meanwhile, the age managing section 57 makes reference to thecontent-status database 56 on the basis of the content ID supplied fromthe user-interface control section 52 in order for thehereinafter-referred process of FIG. 9 and other processes, and readsout the age data corresponding to the content and sends it back to theuser-interface control section 52.

The function as the age managing section 57 is realized by theprocessing of the CPU 81.

A content-table managing section 47 prepares an EPG list, apicture-recorded content list, a reproducing schedule table and thelike.

A content-list display section 48 causes the display 94 to display anEPG list, picture-recorded content list or reproducing schedule tableinputted from the content-table managing section 47 through theuser-interface control section 52.

The function of the content-table managing section 47 and content-listdisplay section 48 is realized by the processing of the CPU 81, graphicprocess controller 78, composer 77 and the like.

A content selecting section 49 specifies a content selected by user'scursor operation on the picture-recorded title list or the likedisplayed on the display 94 by the content-list display section 48.

The video data corresponding to the specified (selected) content is readout of the storage video database 50 and outputted to a reproductionprocessing section 51.

The reproduction processing section 51 reads out the video data(compressed content files) stored in the storage video database 50, andseparates it into a video and an audio and decompresses those by an MPEGscheme.

Namely, the content selecting section 49 and reproduction processingsection 51 has a function for reproducing/outputting a picture-recordedcontent, which is realized by the processing of the CPU 81,user-interface control section 76, decoder 73, composer 77, mixer 75,etc. of FIG. 1.

The user-interface control section 52 controls how to present a list ofvideo data or content information (e.g. program names) to the user.

Namely, the user-interface control section 52 inquires of the agemanaging section 57 as to the content ID of a content selected by thecontent selecting section 49, to acquire the corresponding content age,and changes the content presenting way on the basis of the age. Thischanges the title character size and color of each content, the deletingmark to be displayed nearby a title, and so on.

Meanwhile, the user-interface control section 52 allows the user toinput a “delete-prohibition” mark for each content. The content attachedwith the mark is not a subject of automatic deletion.

The content, the user has inputted a delete-prohibition mark, isrecorded by delete-prohibition information in the content-statusdatabase 56, i.e. managed as delete-prohibited content.

This embodiment provides an upper limit of the total amount of thecontents put with “delete-prohibition” marks, thereby preventing a greatdeal of contents from being unnecessarily placed underdelete-prohibition management. By this devising, the capacity requiredin picture-recording is made secured on the HDD 85 at all times.

The process concerning delete-prohibition input is hereinafter referredin FIG. 8.

The video display section 53 displays (reproduces) the video inputtedfrom the reproduction processing section 51 through the user-interfacecontrol section 52.

The audio reproducing section 54 outputs (reproduces) the audio inputtedfrom the reproduction processing section 51 through the user interface52.

The communicating section 58 controls the wireless communicationsthrough telephone lines or cables. By communications with theservice-providing server system through the communication section 58, itis possible to obtain EPG data, a list of recommended picture-recordingprograms and the like. Using the list, the picture-recording schedulingsection 44 can register the scheduling for automatic picture-recording.

A user-information managing section 59 enables to input or change userinformation (e.g. user ID, password, name, address, liking, etc.). Bysending these pieces of information to the server system for providingservice, it is possible to receive a distribution of a list ofrecommended picture-recording programs suited for the user.

A user-information registering section 60 registers the user information(e.g. user ID, password, name, address, liking, etc.) inputted by theuser. The user information registered is sent to the server systemthrough the user-information managing section 59 and communicatingsection 58. Due to this, user information (customer information) entriesare added or changed in the customer database within the server system.

3. Content Age Adding Process

As can be seen from the above functional configuration, in therecording/reproducing apparatus 11 of this embodiment, the EPG data onbroadcast programs (contents) are managed in the EPG database 43.Meanwhile, when a content is picture-recorded, the content is stored asa compressed content file to the storage video database 50. Eachcompressed-content file and each of EPD data are placed in acorresponding state through a content ID, for example.

Furthermore, the content picture-recoded or the content scheduled forpicture-recording is associated by a content ID, and various pieces ofinformation are managed in the content-status database 56.

It was already described that, as management of the contents recorded onthe HDD 85, the management of automatically deleting unnecessarycontents is important in order to secure a recording capacity inperforming picture-recording.

This embodiment uses content age as an index for selecting a content tobe deleted during the automatic deletion. Content age is recorded to acontent-status database 56, and age-addition-processed by an agemanaging section 57. The content age is given as a value computeddepending upon a lapse time from content recorded date-and-time and agenre of that content.

Namely, the age managing section 57 sequentially execute a process ofadding/updating content age to each content rendered picture-recordedwithin the content-status database 56, which process is shown in FIG. 6.

The age managing section 57 updates the age of each contentpicture-recorded of within the content-status database 56, according toan algorithm as shown in FIG. 6.

The update timing of content age is suitably at an interval of severalten minutes to several hours, for example.

The age managing section 57, in step F101 in the processing of FIG. 6,inquires of the content managing section 46 and searches for a categoryto which each content belongs.

The age managing section 57, carries out a content-age update process onevery content, as a subject, whose information of content status isrendered “picture-recorded” in the content-status database 56. In stepF101, however, it designates one of the contents picture-recorded, tosearch for a category. In this case, the content managing section 46searches through the EPG database on the basis of a content ID andobtains genre information of the relevant content, thereby notifying theage managing section 57 of the category (genre) of the content.

The age managing section 57 holds addition coefficients forcategory-based addition process. Although broadcast program categoryincludes news, drama, variety, sports, music, movie and so on, thecoefficients concerning age addition are set in accordance with thesegenres. For example, the genre having a high real-time nature, e.g.news, lowers in its content importance as time passes. Meanwhile, inmusic or the like, there is a content the user desires for repetitiveviewing. For example, concerning the music video on an artist in user'sfavor, importance degree does not lower with the lapse of time.

In order to reflect such genre-based natures upon content age, highcoefficient value is set for news or the like while low coefficientvalue is set for music content or the like.

The genre-based coefficient value may be set beforehand. Otherwise, theuser is preferably allowed to set and change the coefficient value sothat addition coefficient value can be made low for the genre the userdesires saving possibly long in time.

The age managing section 57, in step F102, extracts an additioncoefficient value in accordance with the content category.

In step F103, computed is a lapse time, on the current date-and-time, offrom the date-and-time the content age has been updated last time.Namely, reference is made to the information of update date-and-time ofwithin the content-status database 56, to compute a lapse time from thatupdate date-and-time.

In step F104, the computed lapse time is multiplied by the extractedaddition coefficient value, thereby determining an age value foraddition. Then, the age value for addition is added to the content agevalue recorded in the content-status database 56, to have a new contentage. Thus, update is made to the content age value of within thecontent-status database 56. On this occasion, the information of updatedate-and-time is updated into the current time.

In step F105, determination is made as to whether content age update asabove has completed or not on all the content data recorded to the HDD85. If not completed, the process returns to step F101, to carry out anage-addition process to the next content data.

After the age-addition process of steps F101-F104 is done on all thecontent data picture-recorded and the content age values in thecontent-status database 56 are updated, the process is terminated fromstep F105.

By carrying out such a content-age-addition process, content ageadvances faster on the content higher in current-affair nature andallowed to be deleted earlier, e.g. news. Meanwhile, content ageadvances slowly on the content desirably held comparatively long intime, e.g. drama, movie and music programs.

Naturally, in case the coefficient dependent upon genre is allowed forthe user to set/change, content age advancement can be set for the genredesired for saving long in time and the genre allowed for earlierdeletion depending upon user's intention.

4. Automatic Deletion in Picture-Recording

The picture-recording processing section 45 makes a processing ofpicture-recording a broadcast program to the HDD 85, depending upon thescheduling for picture-recording (scheduling for picture-recording byuser's operation, or automatic scheduling for picture-recording) in thepicture-recording scheduling section 44 or user's manual operation ofpicture-recording.

During carrying out picture-recording, when the remaining capacity forrecording on the HDD 85 is insufficient, automatic deletion process isalso made to the contents recorded on the HDD 85.

For this reason, the picture-recording processing section 45 carries outa process of FIG. 7 when executing picture-recording depending upon aschedule registration or an operation.

At first, during carrying out picture-recording, confirmation is made instep F201 as to whether or not there is left, on the HDD 85, a storagecapacity required for the picture-recording of a content in this time.The data size of the content data to be picture-recorded can bedetermined by a recording date-and-time (start·end time/data size), inthe EPG data of the content, recorded in the EPG database 43.Accordingly, the recordable capacity of the HDD 85 is determined toconfirm whether or not it is greater than the data size of the contentto be picture-recorded.

In case a storage capacity required in picture-recording can be securedon the HDD 85, the process proceeds to step F204, to start apicture-recording process.

Meanwhile, in the case that a storage capacity required forpicture-recording cannot be secured on the HDD 85, automatic deletionprocess is made in step F202, F203.

In step F202, extracted is a content rendered picture-recorded of withinthe content-status database 56, and furthermore extracted is a contentnot under delete-prohibition management of among the picture-recordedcontents.

Delete-prohibition management refers to management on the content theuser designated as delete-prohibition by putting delete-prohibitioninformation in the content-status database 56. Delete-prohibitionmanagement is hereinafter referred.

In step F202, after extracting a content picture-recorded and moreovernot under delete-prohibition management, automatic deletion is carriedout in step F203.

In this case, all the extracted contents not under delete-prohibitionmanagement are checked for content age. Until securing a storagecapacity required for picture-recording, processing is made to deletethe content in the order of higher content age from the HDD 85 (stepF203).

Namely, the content highest in content age is first deleted. In thedeletion state, the HDD 85 recordable capacity is confirmed anddetermination is made as to whether or not the picture-recording in thistime has become possible. In case the capacity for picture-recording issecured, automatic deletion is completed. In case it cannot be secured,deleted is the content next higher in content age. Confirmation is againmade as to whether the capacity for picture-recording is secured or not.

In this manner, automatic deletion is made in the order of highercontent age, to secure a capacity for the picture-recording in thistime.

After securing the capacity on the HDD 85 by the automatic deletionprocess like this, the process proceeds to step F204, to start apicture-recording process.

The picture-recording processing section 45 carries out automaticdeletion as required in this manner, whereby picture-recording isexecutable at all times.

Meanwhile, by making it possible to always secure a recording domainrequired in carrying out picture-recording, it is possible toautomatically picture-record, at all times, a program recommended by thesystem or a program recommended by a service connected to the network.

Meanwhile, because the contents prohibited from being deleted by theuser are excluded from the subject of automatic deletion, there is nopossibility of making a deletion not intended by the user.

Meanwhile, although hereinafter referred, because the upper limit isprovided to the content to be under delete-prohibition management, sucha situation does not occur that there is no content to be automaticallydetected and hence capacity for picture-recording cannot be secured.

Meanwhile, automatic deletion is carried out in the order of from theone higher in the content age added an age by the above process of FIG.6. As per the above, because content age is to be added an age dependingupon the lapse time from a recording date-and-time and upon the genre,automatic deletion is carried out comparatively in the order of lowerimportance of saving. Thus, selected is properly a content to beautomatically deleted.

It is natural that it can be approximated to user-intended automaticdeletion by adjusting the age-adding algorithm.

5. Delete-Prohibition Management

By the process of the user-interface control section 52 and contentmanaging section 46, management of content delete-prohibition is made inaccordance with user's operation.

The process in this case is shown in FIG. 8.

The user-interface control section 52 presents the user with apicture-recorded content list prepared by the content-table managingsection 47 by the content list display section 48, as step F301. Theuser is prompted to select a content desired for delete-prohibition.

The user operates a graphical user interface (GUI) provided by theuser-interface control section 52, and selects a content desired for“delete-prohibition” from the list of content information (e.g. programname).

After the user makes an input designating a content instructing fordelete-prohibition, the user-interface control section 52 notifies thecontent managing section 46 of the input information. The contentmanaging section 46, instep F302, determines whether or not the totalamount of the content for delete-prohibition management exceeds an upperlimit value.

The upper limit value is set, for example, at a certain percentage valuerelative to the total amount prepared for picture-recording content dataonto the HDD 85, for example at 50% of the above total amount.

The content managing section 46 can compute the total capacity of thecontents already placed under delete-prohibition management, bycomputing the total capacity of the contents now being underdelete-prohibition management in the content-status database 56.Consequently, the total capacity is added by the capacity (data size) ofthe contents newly designated this time by the user, whereby it isdetermined whether or not the added capacity value exceeds the capacityvalue as the above upper limit value.

In case the total capacity of the contents to be placed underdelete-prohibition management even if added by the capacity of thecontent designated this time does not exceed the upper limit value, theprocess proceeds to step F303, to place the user-designated contentunder management of delete-prohibition. Namely, concerning the relevantcontent, delete-prohibition information is written in the content-statusdatabase 56.

Meanwhile, in the case determined that the total capacity of thecontents to be placed under delete-prohibition management exceeds theupper value if the capacity of the content designated this time isadded, delete-prohibition management is considered impossible and hencethe process proceeds to step F304. Namely, the content managing section46 notifies the user-interface control section 52 of the impossibilityof delete-prohibition management. The user-interface control section 52presents the user with a message not to allow delete-prohibitionfurthermore.

In this manner, the user can prevent the content not desired fordeletion from being automatically deleted by designatingdelete-prohibition if it is within the upper limit value. This isbecause the contents placed under delete-prohibition management areexcluded from the subject of automatic deletion in the above step F202of FIG. 7.

Meanwhile, by taking the total capacity of the contents to be placedunder delete-prohibition management at the upper limit, e.g. 50% of thetotal capacity of content recording to the HDD 85, such a situation canbe prevented that there is no room for automatic deletion andpicture-recording becomes impossible to carry out. Namely, by the aboveprocess of the above FIG. 7, picture-recording can be carried outpositively.

Incidentally, it is naturally possible for the user to release a certaincontent from delete-prohibition. For example, in the case that thecontent the user intended for delete-prohibition is determined not to bedelete-prohibited in the above step F304 of FIG. 8, the user may selecta content allowed for deletion among the contents already placed underdelete-prohibition management and release it from delete-prohibitionmanagement. This provides an allowance relative to the upper limitvalue, enabling new delete-prohibition management.

6. Picture-Recorded Content List Preparation Process

In the meanwhile, this embodiment carries out automatic deletion in theorder of higher content age as required, i.e. in the case sufficientcapacity cannot be secured on the HDD 85 when to make apicture-recording.

Although content age is dependent upon a lapse time from recordingdate-and-time and a genre, there is a possibility that the content theuser not intended for deletion be automatically deleted in a certaincase. For example, the content age of news or the like advances fast, asin the foregoing. However, such an exceptional affair possibly occursthat the user desires not to delete but to leave only a certainparticular news content.

Meanwhile, although automatic deletion itself is not problematic, thereis a demand that the user desirably grasps which content is to beautomatically deleted.

For this reason, this embodiment makes it possible to present the userwith the contents, in the picture-recorded content list, to beautomatically deleted with high possibility.

Consequently, a process as in FIG. 9 is carried out in the content-listmanaging section 47 and user-interface control section 52.

At first, step F401, F402 represents a process of preparing the data fora picture-recorded content list in the content-list managing section 47.

Namely, in step F401, reference is made to the content-status database56, to extract all the contents having a content status rendered“picture-recorded”.

Then, for the extracted content, prepared in step F402 is list dataincluding information, e.g. program name and airing date-and-time, byusing the information recorded in the content-status database 56 andinformation recorded in the EPG database 43. This is delivered to theuser-interface control section 52.

The user-interface control section 52, in step F403, checks the contentslisted in the list for content age. For example, the user-interfacecontrol section 52 inquires of the age managing section 57 a content ageof each content listed in the list. From a result of it, some contentsare selected in the order of higher content age.

In step F404, one or a plurality of contents selected in the above, i.e.the contents having high content age, are added by a delete-destinedmark on the list data.

In step F405, the list data added with delete-destined marks isoutputted and displayed on the content-list display section 48.

By thus displaying a picture-recorded content list, the user is allowedto know a content to be possibly deleted soon. Also, in case thecontents destined for deletion includes a content not desired fordeletion, it can be coped with, for example, by making an inputting ofdelete-prohibition at that time.

Incidentally, when extracting the delete-destined content in step F403,in case the number of contents destined for deletion is set dependingupon the schedule situation for picture-recording, the remainingcapacity on the HDD 85, and so on, it becomes more correct scheduleinformation.

For example, the data size of a content being scheduled forpicture-recording can be known from EPG data. Accordingly, the capacityrequiring automatic deletion is computed from the current recordablecapacity on the HDD 85 and the data size of the next content scheduledfor picture-recording. The contents in an amount requiring deletion forobtaining that capacity may be scheduled for automatic deletion.

7. Modifications

Although the embodiment of the present invention was explained in theabove, the invention is not limited to the above embodiment but variousexamples can be considered.

In the above embodiment, content delete-prohibition management is madedepending upon a user's designation for delete-prohibition, wherein thecontents not under delete-prohibition management are to be automaticallydeleted on the basis of content age.

Modification can be realized as a recording/reproducing apparatusemploying this one process.

For example, as a recording/reproducing apparatus for carrying outcontent delete-prohibition management within an upper limit value rangein accordance with user's designation for delete-prohibition, it ispossible to consider an example that automatic deletion is made fromthose not under delete-prohibition management, with reference to onlyrecording date-and-time.

Meanwhile, it is possible to consider an example that designation fordelete-prohibition is not made but content management is made based oncontent age.

In such a case, although all the contents possibly reach the highest agein due course, it can be considered that the user is allowed to resetthe age for those not desired for deletion or cancel the additionprocess.

Meanwhile, in the above embodiment, automatic deletion is to be made ifnecessary during carrying out picture-recording, the timing of carryingout automatic deletion can be considered in variety. For example, it canbe considered to carry out automatic deletion when the capacity of theHDD 85 becomes a certain degree or lower. Furthermore, it is possible toconsider a scheme to carry out automatic deletion at a regular intervalor depending upon user's operation irrespective of the HDD capacity orpicture-recording operation.

Meanwhile, although the upper limit value of the content capacity to beplaced under delete-prohibition management was taken for example 50% ofthe total picture-recording capacity on the HDD 85, this upper limitvalue can be set in variety. Meanwhile, the user may desirably set anupper limit value.

Meanwhile, concerning the contents recorded on the HDD 85, althoughrequired information is managed in association with the content-statusdatabase 56 and EPG database 43, these database configuration is notlimited to.

For example, EPG data, content status, delete-prohibition information,etc., may be recorded within a file of a content itself or in amanagement file of a content file.

Meanwhile, the invention is applicable to various datarecording/reproducing apparatuses for multimedia contents, i.e. movingvideo images, still video images, sound, texts, programs and so on,besides picture-recording broadcast program contents.

Furthermore, although the above embodiment was configured having therecording/reproducing section in the digital satellite broadcast tuner,it is possible to consider a configuration as a recording/reproducingapparatus not having a tuner function but connected to a tuner unit oranother AV appliance or to an information processing apparatus.

As can be understood from the above explanation, according to theinvention the content data recorded on the recording medium isautomatically deleted with a priority of the higher content ageprocessed of age addition depending upon a lapse time from recordingexecution date-and-time and a genre. Because the content of a broadcastprogram or the like can be distinguished in a certain degree dependingupon genre whether to preferably save or to be allowed for deletion,content age based on lapse time and genre is proper index values forautomatic deletion, i.e. there is an effect that proper automaticdeletion can be implemented.

Meanwhile, in automatic deletion, because deletion is made with apriority of the content data having higher content age on the basis ofthe remaining capacity for recording on the recording medium and thecapacity required for the content data to be recorded on the recordingmedium, automatic deletion is effected in required amount duringrequired time. Namely, there is no possibility of an occurrence thatimproper or excessive automatic deletion is made unnecessarily topossibly lose the contents necessitated by the user.

Also, by singling out the content data destined for automatic deletiondepending upon content age and outputting the display data containingthe content notifying of destined automatic deletion, the user can beinformed of a possibility of automatic deletion. For example, the user,if desires not to delete the content data destined for automaticdeletion, can take a proper measure by placing that content data underdelete-prohibition management.

Meanwhile, delete-prohibition management is made possible for thecontent data recorded on the recording medium. For example,delete-prohibition management is possible by user's operation inputinstructing a delete-prohibition on the content data desired not to bedeleted. By excluding the content data placed under delete-prohibitionmanagement from the subject of automatic deletion, the content dataneeded by the user can be prevented from being automatically deleted.Namely, improper automatic deletion for the user can prevented.

Because of automatic deletion based on content age and of automaticdeletion by content age while not carrying out content data deletion notintended by the user on the basis of delete-prohibition management,optimal content management can be realized.

Meanwhile, concerning delete-prohibition management, the upper limitvalue is provided so that a great deal of content data cannot be placedunder delete-prohibition management unnecessarily, thereby securing arecording region during automatic picture-recording or so.

From the above, proper content data as a subject of deletion is selectedand deleted without imposing heavy operation burden on the user duringautomatic deletion. Because this can positively secure the remainingcapacity for recording on the recording medium, it is suited asrecording management in a large-capacity multimedia-content storageapparatus.

1. A recording/reproducing apparatus characterized by comprising:recording/reproducing means capable of recording inputted content datato a recording medium and reproducing content data from the recordingmedium; content-status managing means for managing a content age as avalue age-addition-processed on the content data recorded on therecording medium, depending upon a lapse time from a recording executiondata-and-time and a genre of the content data; and automatic-deletioncontrol means for making reference to the content age under managementof the content-status managing means as to the content data recorded onthe recording medium, and automatically deleting the content data withpriority of higher content age from the recording medium.
 2. Arecording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein theautomatic-deletion control means carries out deleting the content datawith priority of higher content age, on the basis of a remainingrecordable capacity of the recording medium and a capacity required forcontent data to be recorded to the recording medium.
 3. Arecording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein thecontent-status managing means is adapted to make a delete-prohibitionmanagement on the content data recorded on the recording medium, and theautomatic-deletion control means carries out deleting the content datawith priority of higher content age, excepting the content data placedunder delete-prohibition management in the content-status managingmeans.
 4. A recording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 3,wherein the content-status managing means places underdelete-prohibition management content data that an operation inputinstructing delete-prohibition has been done of among the content datarecorded on the recording medium.
 5. A recording/reproducing apparatusaccording to claim 3, wherein, when carrying out delete-prohibitionmanagement on the content data, provided is an upper limit value of atotal amount of content data to be placed under delete-prohibitionmanagement.
 6. A recording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 5,wherein, in a case determined that the total amount of content data tobe placed under delete-prohibition management exceeds the upper limitvalue, notification is made of a fact delete-prohibition management isimpossible.
 7. A recording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 5,wherein the upper limit value of a total amount of content data to beplaced under delete-prohibition management is to be previously set ordesirably set.
 8. A recording/reproducing apparatus according to claim1, further comprising display-data output means for outputting displaydata including a matter informing that content data scheduled forautomatic deletion is singled out of the content data recorded on therecording medium on the basis of the content age under management of thecontent-status managing means, and automatic deletion is scheduled onthe singled-out content data.
 9. A recording/reproducing apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the recording/reproducing meansautomatically records content data in a genre a user likes to therecording medium.
 10. A recording/reproducing apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the recording/reproducing means records content data ofrecommendations provided by service to the recording medium.
 11. Arecording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein therecording/reproducing means records content data selected from a list ofinformation of the content data by a user's operation input to therecording medium.
 12. A recording/reproducing apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the recording/reproducing means records the contentdata in a compression form to the recording medium.
 13. Arecording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein agenre-based coefficient value upon making an age-addition process on thecontent age is to be previously set or set/changed.
 14. A recordmanaging method characterized by comprising: a managing procedure ofmanaging a content age as a value age-addition-processed on content datarecorded on the recording medium, depending upon a lapse time from arecording execution data-and-time and a genre of the content data; andan automatic deleting procedure of making reference to the content ageas to the content data recorded on the recording medium, andautomatically deleting the content data with priority of higher in thecontent age from the recording medium.
 15. A recording medium recordinga computer-readable program, the program being for arecording/reproducing apparatus and characterized by including: amanaging step of managing a content age as a valueage-addition-processed on content data recorded on the recording medium,depending upon a lapse time from a recording execution data-and-time anda genre of the content data; and an automatic deleting step of makingreference to the content age as to the content data recorded on therecording medium, and automatically deleting the content data withpriority of higher in the content age from the recording medium.
 16. Aprogram for a computer for controlling a recording/reproducing apparatusto execute: a managing step of managing a content age as a valueage-addition-processed on content data recorded on the recording medium,depending upon a lapse time from a recording execution data-and-time anda genre of the content data; and an automatic deleting step of makingreference to the content age as to the content data recorded on therecording medium, and automatically deleting the content data withpriority of higher content age from the recording medium.
 17. Arecording/reproducing apparatus characterized by comprising:recording/reproducing means capable of recording inputted content datato a recording medium and reproducing content data from the recordingmedium; content-status managing means capable of placing underdelete-prohibition management one or a plurality of ones of content dataequal to or less than the upper limit value of among the content datarecorded on the recording medium; and automatic-deletion control meansfor automatically deleting, concerning the content data recorded on therecording medium, the content data from the recording medium, exceptingcontent data being placed under delete-prohibition management in thecontent-status managing means.
 18. A recording/reproducing apparatusaccording to claim 17, wherein the upper limit value is set as acapacity value in a predetermined percentage of a capacity of therecording medium, whereby a total capacity of one or a plurality of onesof content data to be placed under delete-prohibition management isequal to or less than the predetermined percentage of capacity value.19. A recording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 17, wherein thecontent-status managing means, in the case an operation inputinstructing delete-prohibition is made for certain content data of amongthe content data recorded on the recording medium, prohibits therelevant content data from being deleted thereby determining whether toexceed the upper limit value wherein, in a case determined not to exceedthe upper limit value, the relevant content data is placed underdelete-prohibition management.
 20. A recording managing methodcharacterized by comprising: a managing procedure of placing underdelete-prohibition management one or a plurality of ones of content dataequal to or less than the upper limit value of among the content datarecorded on the recording medium; and automatic deleting procedure,concerning the content data recorded on the recording medium, ofautomatically deleting content data from the recording medium except forthe content data being placed under delete-prohibition management.
 21. Arecording medium recording a computer-readable program, the programbeing for a recording/reproducing apparatus and characterized byincluding: a managing step of placing one or a plurality of ones ofcontent data equal to or less than the upper limit value of among thecontent data recorded on the recording medium under delete-prohibitionmanagement; and automatic deleting step, concerning the content datarecorded on the recording medium, for automatically deleting contentdata from the recording medium except for the content data being placedunder delete-prohibition management.
 22. A program for a computer forcontrolling a recording/reproducing apparatus to execute: a managingstep of placing one or a plurality of ones of content data equal to orless than the upper limit value of among the content data recorded onthe recording medium under delete-prohibition management; and automaticdeleting step, concerning the content data recorded on the recordingmedium, for automatically deleting content data from the recordingmedium except for the content data being placed under delete-prohibitionmanagement.